Free agents: The best players available on a Bosman Transfer

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 14 Feb 2025 12:54 GMT
• 3 min read

The January transfer window may have clubs, but several top-class players are still free agents and can therefore be signed on a Bosman deal.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he may dip into this market to solve his side's offensive injury crisis, showing how valuable free agents can be even to the very best clubs.

Contracts in Europe typically run until the end of June and with that date now long since passed, a host of stars find themselves unemployed.

Last summer, there were some huge free transfers - including Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid, Thiago Silva to Fluminense and David de Gea to Fiorentina.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024 - All the Done Deals

In addition, Toni Kroos and Thiago Alcantara both opted to retire following the expiration of their contracts at Real Madrid and Liverpool.

Furthermore, Raphael Varane left Manchester United a year earlier than initially anticipated to join Cesc Fabregas' Serie A new boys Como on a Bosman. However, he has also now retired.

Barcelona captain Sergi Roberto joined Como too, while Varane's former team-mate Anthony Martial signed a club-record deal with AEK Athens.

Memphis Depay decided to make the move to Brazilian Serie A club Corinthians after leaving Atletico Madrid, Victor Moses joined up with recently relegated Luton Town in the Championship, and Adrien Rabiot made the surprising move to Olympique de Marseille after a summer full of Premier League links.

Meanwhile, Davy Klaassen returned to Ajax for a third time after leaving Inter and former Barcelona flop Miralem Pjanic joined CSKA Moscow.

In January 2025, Keylor Navas joined Newell's Old Boys, while Como signed Dele Alli. Sergio Ramos then secured a shock move to CF Monterrey on 6 February. Layvin Kurzawa and Marco van Ginkel have since joined Boavista in Portugal.

READ MORE: Out of contract in 2025 - The best free agents available on a Bosman

Who are the best out-of-contract soccer players?

Every year on 1 July, players whose contracts expire at their clubs become free agents.

There are currently some very high-profile free agents, who are all available on a Bosman deal.

Diego Costa, Wissam Ben Yedder and Serge Aurier are perhaps the most high-profile players who remain unattached.

Below, FootballTransfers have listed the best free agents that are currently unattached and are therefore available to be signed without a transfer fee.